As President Barack Obama took the stage to deliver his acceptance speech on the night of his re-election, his younger daughter nudged his arm. He bent down to listen to 11-year-old Sasha. "Behind you," she mouthed. The president nodded and promptly turned to wave to the supporters at his back. Sasha beamed.

The same little Obama who plaintively blurted "Daddy, what city are you in?" at the big screen after her mother's 2008 convention speech now was giving her father stage direction. The moment was blogged about instantly, viewed 3.2 million times on YouTube — just another indication of the nation's fascination with this first family.

Americans view the Obamas in such packaged snippets yet feel like they are on a first-name basis. Look how tall Malia is! Why didn't Michelle kiss Barack on the kiss cam? What does Barack tell Sasha about her jump shot?